Metal and tile are both 50-plus-year roofs, but they win on different terms. A metal roof costs roughly $5 to $16 per square foot installed, lasts about 40 to 70 years, and weighs so little that almost any existing frame can carry it. A tile roof runs about $7 to $25 per square foot, can outlive a century of weather, and resists fire and heat well, but its waterproof underlayment wears out in 20 to 30 years and its weight often forces structural upgrades. The right pick depends on your budget, your framing, and how long you plan to stay.
What is a metal roof?
A metal roof is a system of steel, aluminum, zinc, or copper panels or shingles fastened over a deck and underlayment. The two common formats are standing seam, with concealed clips and raised vertical seams, and exposed-fastener panels screwed directly through the metal. Coatings like Galvalume and painted PVDF finishes protect the surface. Most residential metal roofs weigh 1 to 2 pounds per square foot and reflect solar heat, which can lower attic temperatures in hot climates.
What is a tile roof?
A tile roof is made of individual clay or concrete tiles laid in overlapping courses over a waterproof underlayment that does the actual water shedding. Clay tile is fired earthenware, often the terracotta or barrel profile seen on Spanish and Mediterranean homes. Concrete tile is molded cement, cheaper and heavier, made in flat, low, and high profiles. Clay weighs about 8 to 10 pounds per square foot and concrete about 9 to 11, roughly five to ten times a metal roof.
Metal roof vs tile roof: the comparison table
The table below sets the two systems side by side on the factors that decide most re-roofs. Ranges reflect national averages and vary by region, product grade, roof complexity, and installer. Treat them as planning figures, not quotes.
| Factor | Metal roof | Tile roof (clay/concrete) |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | ~$5 to $16 per sq ft | ~$7 to $25 per sq ft (clay at the high end) |
| Lifespan | 40 to 70 years | 50 to 100-plus years (tiles); underlayment 20 to 30 years |
| Weight | 50 to 150 lb per square (100 sq ft) | 800 to 1,500 lb per square |
| Structural needs | Fits standard truss framing | Often needs reinforcement if not pre-engineered |
| Fire rating | Class A (non-combustible) | Class A (non-combustible) |
| Wind resistance | Rated to ~110 to 180 mph by product | 150-plus mph on a reinforced, fastened system |
| Impact rating | Class 4 available | Class 4 available |
| Install difficulty | Fast, fewer trades | Slow, heavy, specialist labor |
| Maintenance | Low; occasional fastener and seam checks | Moderate; broken tiles, flashing, underlayment |
| Best for | Snow, wildfire, budget-to-mid, quick installs | Hot, sunny, coastal, Spanish/Mediterranean homes |
Cost: upfront and over 50 years
Metal is usually cheaper to buy and tile is often cheaper to keep, so the winner depends on your time horizon. Installed metal runs about $5 to $16 per square foot; tile runs about $7 to $25, with clay barrel tile at the top. On a 2,000-square-foot roof that can mean a five-figure gap on day one. Over a longer hold, tile narrows the distance because it rarely needs full replacement, though its underlayment and any structural work carry their own bills.
Here is the number most comparisons skip. A tile roof’s tiles may last 75 to 100 years, but the underlayment beneath them lasts only 20 to 30. Re-laying it means lifting every tile, replacing the membrane, and resetting the tiles, with breakage along the way. That job commonly runs $5,000 to $12,000 and recurs two or three times inside a century. Over a 50-year hold, metal often lands at a lower total cost of ownership even when its upfront price matches tile, because it avoids that recurring tear-off (a Roofing Brief calculation based on the cost and lifespan ranges cited here). We track how material prices have moved in our roofing prices versus inflation analysis.
Weight and the structural question
Weight is the factor that quietly decides whether tile is even an option. A metal roof adds 50 to 150 pounds per 100 square feet; clay and concrete tile add 800 to 1,500 pounds over the same area, roughly 75 percent heavier than most tile-versus-metal shoppers assume. Metal drops onto almost any existing frame without changes.
Most homes built since the 1980s use engineered trusses sized for asphalt shingles at about 15 to 20 pounds per square foot of dead load. Metal fits inside that budget easily. Tile often does not. Putting tile on a frame not designed for it can require sistering trusses, adding beams, or partial rebuilds, work that commonly costs $3,000 to $8,000 and adds one to two weeks. Always get a structural assessment before pricing a tile conversion.
Wind, fire, and impact performance
Both materials reach the top tier on fire and can be engineered for severe wind, with different failure modes. Metal and tile both carry Class A fire ratings, the highest for combustibility, which matters in wildfire zones. On wind, metal products are rated from roughly 110 to 180 mph depending on panel and fastening; tile systems can hold 150-plus mph when tiles are mechanically fastened and the structure is reinforced, though loose or foam-set tiles can become debris in extreme storms.
Both can earn a Class 4 impact rating, the level that survives a two-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet, which insurers reward. Metal dents under large hail without leaking; tile can crack on impact and shed individual tiles, which are then replaced piece by piece. For a deeper look at fire performance by roof type, see our data on how Class A roofs perform in wildfires.
Insurance, energy, and resale
Both roofs can lower premiums and lift resale, with tile sometimes edging ahead on discounts and metal on payback. Insurers may cut homeowners premiums by roughly 5 to 35 percent for impact-and-fire-resistant roofs; metal commonly lands around 20 to 30 percent and tile sometimes 30 to 35 percent, though the larger tile discount rarely offsets its higher install cost. Actual savings depend on carrier, state, and roof documentation. See how carriers price roofs in our breakdown of insurance premiums by roof type and age.
On energy, reflective metal and light-colored tile both cut cooling load in sunny climates; tile’s air gap under each piece adds natural ventilation. On resale, tile signals permanence on Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes, while metal appeals to buyers who value low maintenance and long warranties.
Maintenance and repairs
Metal asks for less routine care; tile is easier to spot-repair but hides a bigger clock in the underlayment. A metal roof mainly needs periodic checks of fasteners, sealant, and seams, plus clearing debris; exposed-fastener panels need screw gaskets watched over time. Tile rarely fails as tiles, but cracked or slipped pieces need swapping, flashing needs upkeep, and walking a tile roof risks breaking tiles, so repairs usually call for a specialist. The underlayment replacement remains the defining long-term maintenance event for tile.
Which roof should you choose?
Match the roof to your framing, climate, and how long you will stay. Use this decision framework:
- Choose metal if your budget is tight to moderate, your existing frame was built for shingles, you want a fast install, or you live in heavy-snow or wildfire country where shedding and non-combustibility matter.
- Choose tile if you own or are building a Spanish, Mediterranean, or Southwestern home, you live in a hot or coastal climate, your frame is already engineered for the load, and you plan to stay long enough to bank tile’s multi-decade lifespan.
- Get a structural assessment first whenever you are converting from a lighter roof to tile; the framing cost can swing the entire decision.
- Run the long-term math, not just the sticker. Price the underlayment re-lay two to three times across tile’s life, then compare against a single metal roof over the same window.
- Weigh resale by neighborhood. Tile can lift value where it fits the architecture; metal reads as premium in snow, rural, and modern-design markets.
Still deciding at the structure level rather than the material level? Our guide to flat roof versus pitched roof covers the choice one layer up.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which lasts longer, a metal roof or a tile roof?
Tile lasts longer on paper. Clay and concrete tiles can survive 50 to 100-plus years, while a metal roof typically lasts 40 to 70. The catch is the waterproof underlayment beneath tile, which wears out in 20 to 30 years and must be replaced by lifting every tile. Metal usually reaches the end of its service life in one piece.
Is a metal roof cheaper than a tile roof?
Usually yes upfront. Installed metal runs about $5 to $16 per square foot versus roughly $7 to $25 for tile, with clay barrel tile at the top of the range. Over a long hold the gap narrows because tile rarely needs full replacement, but tile’s recurring underlayment re-lay and any structural work can erase that advantage.
Does a tile roof need structural reinforcement?
Often, yes. Tile weighs 800 to 1,500 pounds per 100 square feet, while metal weighs 50 to 150. Most homes framed since the 1980s use trusses sized for asphalt shingles, which metal fits but tile can exceed. Adding tile to an unprepared frame may need sistering or new beams, commonly $3,000 to $8,000. Get a structural assessment before committing.
Which is better for hurricanes and high wind?
Both can be engineered for severe wind. Metal products are rated to roughly 110 to 180 mph depending on panel and fastening. Tile can hold 150-plus mph when tiles are mechanically fastened over a reinforced structure, but loose or foam-set tiles can break loose in extreme storms. Installation quality matters as much as the material.
Which roof gets a bigger insurance discount?
Tile sometimes edges ahead, but the difference is small. Impact-and-fire-resistant roofs may lower premiums by about 5 to 35 percent. Metal commonly lands near 20 to 30 percent and tile sometimes 30 to 35 percent. The larger tile discount rarely offsets its higher install cost. Savings depend on your carrier, state, and documentation.
Is a metal roof noisier than a tile roof in rain?
Not meaningfully when installed correctly. Modern metal roofs sit over solid decking and underlayment, which dampen sound to levels similar to other roofs. The drumming people remember comes from bare metal over open framing, as on old barns. Tile is quiet by mass. For most homes, rain noise should not decide the choice.